Friday, 1 July 2016
Prime Minister Calls at U.S. Embassy in Armenia on U.S. Independence Day
On the occasion of the United States Independence Day, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan visited today the U.S. Embassy in Armenia. The Prime Minister congratulated Ambassador Richard Mills, the Embassy staff and the friendly people of the United States on the 240th anniversary of U.S. independence. In his congratulatory remarks, the Premier stated in part, “On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and on my own behalf, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you, Mr. Ambassador, the Embassy staff and the friendly people of the United States of America on the occasion of U.S. independence Day.
Highly appreciative of our relations with the United States, we are happy that through joint effort we managed to raise bilateral relations to a new qualitative level. We understand that this day is dear to the people of the United States, because not only did they won independence by fighting against the colonial rule, but they also embraced the values enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. These values are universal and just as important today as 240 years ago.
The Armenian people proclaimed independence by reaffirming their adherence to these very principles. We are grateful to the Government and the people of the United States for the invaluable humanitarian and technical assistance provided since Armenia’s independence. The United States was the first nation to establish an embassy in Armenia. The U.S.-Armenia interstate cooperation has been effective for over 25 years now.
We have a hectic agenda of cooperation with the United States: a dialogue on regional and international security issues, close cooperation in matters of economic and democratic development, interaction in defense and energy industries. Looking forward to greater involvement of U.S. companies in Armenia’s economy, we hope that our cooperation will enter a new phase.
The Armenian-American cooperation is largely promoted by our U.S.-based compatriots who have gone a long way toward strengthening the friendship between our two peoples in addition to the contribution made in the political, economic and cultural life of the United States.
Armenia appreciates the efforts made by the United States, as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The position of the United States on the mechanisms to investigate ceasefire violations and the need to expand the team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office is crucial in terms of ruling out further escalation of the conflict and pushing ahead with the peace process.
Highly appreciative of U.S. Government’s mediation efforts, we expect them to promote peace in the region.
Reiterating my Independence Day congratulations, I wish peace and prosperity to the people of the United States, and a lasting friendship - to our two peoples.”
